By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Department of Health has released a statement where it notes with dismay and great disappointment on allegations made by Independent Media against the Steve Biko Academic Hospital – which is one of “our best hospitals in the country”.
This relates to successive stories published by the independent media group that Ms Gosiame Sithole has given birth to decuplets at the hospital a week ago.
Mysteriously, the location of the infants was never established.
“We have taken these allegations made against government and health care professionals very seriously. The results of our preliminary investigation once again confirmed that there were no decuplets in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, as well that there was no way that Tshwane District Hospital, that is not even capacitated to deliver twins can deliver 10 babies.
“Clinicians at both the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Tshwane District Hospital have confirmed that there is no record of delivery of the decuplets in any of the public health facilities in Gauteng.
“It is not clear as to where the delivery had happened.
Given the magnitude of the allegations, we invite Independent Media which has insinuated wrong-doing on the part of health professionals and government, to assist Ms Sithole to pursue a complaint with the Health Ombudsman for the alleged mistreatment of the patient at any health facility.
“The alleged ‘cover-up of mammoth proportions’ by health authorities seems to be a journalistic error. It cannot be that 10 or 8 babies are born and that no evidence of their whereabouts or existence can be established.
“We urge all South Africans to allow the health professionals to focus on the task at hand of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Gauteng where there is severe pressure,” read the statement.
